
Qass. 
Book. 



,^1 



rn 






PROCEEDINGS 



CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE 



IN RELATION TO THE DEATH OF 



ABKAHAM LINCOLN, 



FI^ESHDEnSTT 



UNITED STATES. 



(VIoYvu Seeks y\^^^ ^a^cuX k)ur^ 



PROCEEDINGS 



CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, 



IN RELATION TO THE DEATH OF 



ABRAHAM LINCOLN, 



I^i^ESIIDElvJT 



TJNITED STATES. 



saamaasa^aeaaammi^aasasaBm 



E6 



J I 



PiESOLUTION authorizing tlie printing of the proceedings of the City 
Council in relation to the death of President Lincoln. 



Resolved by bofft branches of the City Council of Baltimore, That the 
Clerks of the Councils be and are hereby directed to have five hundred 
copies of the proceedings of the Council in reference to the death of 
President Lincoln, together with the addresses of Messrs. Hatch, Cox 
and Valiant, printed in neat pamphlet form. 




\ _^ ^ , 

T^jui — -f--^ee ^<^ ^.'d A Vet/ cavk 
Ccts-i- off -l he nai^e o^ s}a^€ 

truf ot^x^>i C'tyj lI /■/ I's a^ s'j r\ 

.i/u^ jo hit e less l)£>o/'vd ^e^ 
■^kz ouc/hUt set ti^C^ )fc''^ yy^ehi^ 



I^ROOEEDIISJ^aS. 



a^ — ^O^v 



SPECIAL SESSIOI^. 



First Branch. 

Saturday, April 15, 1865. 
The Branch met in special session tliTs afternoon 
at four o'clock, in pursuance to a summons from liis 
Honor, the Mayor. 

Present — James Youxg, Esq., President, and all 
the members. 

John F. Pluramer, Esq., Secretary to the Mayor- 
alty, appeared and presented the following commu- 
nication : 

Mayor's Office — City Hall, 

Baltimore, April 15, 1865. 
To the President and 3Iembers of the 

First and Second Branches Glty Council : 

GrENTLEMEN I 

We are called upon to mourn in sadness the death 
of Abraham Lincolx, President of the United States. 

Mr. Lincoln has had no equal since the days of 
Washington in all those traits of character which 
adorn the human mind. His patriotism and devo- 
tion to the Union were only equaled by his Christian 
charity, kindly feelings and forgiving disposition. 

This afflicting dispensation is the ruling of an all- 



6 

wise Providence, who moves in a mysterious way his 
wonders to perform. A nation mourns his loss in 
grief and sadness. 

It shall be my mournful privilege to unite with 
you in paying marked respect to the memory of the 
deceased. 

Very respectfully, 

John Lee Chapman, Blayor. 

Mr. Ewalt moved that a message be sent to the 
Second Branch projiosing, with their concurrence, 
the reference of the above communication from his 
Honor, the Mayor, to a joint special committee, which 
was determined in the affirmative. 

Tlie following message was received from the Second 
Brancli : 

In Second Branch, 
Baltimore, April ]5, 1865. 
Gentlemen of the First Branch: 

We respectfully inform you tliat we have concurred 
in your proposition to refer the message of his Honor, 
tlie Mayor, in relation to tlie death of the President 
of the United States, to a joint special committee, 
and name on tlie part of this Branch Messrs. Moore, 
Burcli and Nails. 

By order, 

Wm. S. Crowley, Clerk. 

The President named Messrs. Wayson, Keyserand 
Evans as the committee on tlie part of this Brancli. 

The committee then withdrew, and after a short 
alisence returned and through their chairman, Mr. 
Wiiyson, submitted tlie foHowing report and resolu- 
tions : 

The j(jint special committee, to whom was re- 
ferred the communication irom his Honor the Mayor, 



-»^.i.>..>»-iai».».i« 



I 



in relation to the assassination of tlie President, re- 
spectfully submit tlie following preamble and reso- 
lutions. 

Geo. W. Wayson, 
C. C. Keyser, 
John Evans, 

First Branch. 

J, Faris Moore, 
Thos. B. Burch, 
Benj. F. Nalls, 

Second Branch. 

Whereas the sad intelligence has been communi- 
cated to the City Council of Baltimore by his Honor, 
the Mayor, of the base assassination of Abraham Lin- 
coln, President of the United States ; and 

Whereas, all must feel that the mournful event is 
a national calamity calculated to cast a gloom, deep 
and harrowing, over the heart of every lover of his 
country ; and 

Whereas, it becomes the duty of the corporate au- 
thorities of this city to give expression to their heart- 
felt sorrow at the unexpected and startling death of 
one who held so pre-eminent a position in the aiFec- 
tions of a great nation — one who seemed to have been 
destined by the Great Author of Events for the special 
mission assigned him ; and 

Whereas, in the fulfillment of that great mission 
he has been removed from his sphere of usefulness ; 
therefore 

Resolved by the Mayor and City Council of Bal- 
timore, That we bow with resignation to this sad 
calamity, and trust to the inscrutable wisdom of Pro- 
vidence to bring light out of darkness, and sanctify 
this deep affliction to the welfare of the nation. 



Resolved, That a committee of three members of 
each Branch be appointed to act in conjunction with 
his Honor the Mayor, for the purpose of making suit- 
able arrangements to attend the funeral ceremonies of 
the late President of the United States, and that the 
Mayor, members of the Council, and tlie heads of the 
departments attend the funei'al. 

Resolved, That his Honor the Mayor be requested 
to issue a proclamation requesting the citizens to 
drai)e their flags and places of business in mourning 
until after the funeral. 

Kesolved, That in token of sorrow and respect for 
tlie memory of the deceased, the members of the Coun- 
cil and the corporate authorities wear the usual badge 
of mourning on the left arm, and that the Clerks of 
the respective Branches be and they are hereby di- 
rected to have the cliambers of botli Branches draped 
in mourning for the space of thirty days. 

Mr. Hatch moved that the preamble and resolutions 
be lead a second time, by special order, which was 
determined in the affirmative, and the resolutions 
adopted. 

The above preamble and resolutions were returned 
by the Second Branch endorsed "concurred in." 

Mr. Hatch, on making the motion tor a second 
reading of the above resolutions, delivered tlie fol- 
lowing remarks : 

Mi\ President and Gentlemen : — We meet this even- 
ing with saddened liearts and tearful eyes. The na- 
tion's chief has falk'u, and fallen by the assassin's 
liand. Tlie [)eople mourn his loss, for he was be- 
loved by the pure and good, and was enshrined in 
theii' lieait of Insirts. '*0h ! what a fall was that 



fwivmiina 



9 

my countrymen !" to a people elated with the pros- 
pects of a bright-eyed peace once more blessing the 
land with joy and gladness and fraternal feeling ; to 
a people who have for four long years of civil feuds 
and bloody strife, quaffed and cj[uaffed the poisoned 
cup of sorrow until grief almost become the normal 
condition of our natures; when all of this was changed 
for joy and gladness, and the sunny future broke upon 
our vision with a resurrection of a new and more beau- 
tiful life — when we Avere about to gather in the vin- 
tage of the glorious harvest which stern necessity 
and affliction had prepared us to enjoy. Oh, ifwas 
in an hour of ecstacy and joy like this that the poi- 
soned chalice was again raised to our unwilling lips, 
and we were doomed to drink the bitter dregs, and 
the morrow's happiness that beamed upon a nation's 
hopes, thrilled the public heart with confidence and 
filled the soul with prayer and gratitude was changed, 
and changed to what? A country amazed with hor- 
ror and dismay ; a land filled with grief and sorrow, 
clothed and draped in the habiliments of mourning ; 
the people in sack-cloth and ashes offering up their 
sad lamentations for the loss of their honored and 
revered chieftain. 

The melancholy death of our wise, pure and good 
President is as astounding and lamentable to onr 
sense of honor as it is touching to the feelings that 
stir up the deep affections of our souls. Oh! ray 
countrymen, what a spectacle to behold ! A pa- 
triot's deeds defamed by treacherous sons; a patriot's 
life struck down by ruthless hands, and all that we 
loved and reverenced blasphemed against and warred 
upon. The people's choice, the people's pride, in the 
zenith of his usefulness and glory, struck down in 
death, not by a conqueror's arm, not by a deed of 



10 

chivalry worthy of a soldier's fame, but he fell by 
the assassin's hand ; by the base ingratitude of those 
Avho should have loved him most. Oh, ray country- 
men, weep ! The occasion is worthy of your grief. 
Why was not the poisoned lips that muttered treason 
first struck dumb with death? Wliy was not the 
mind that first engendered or conceived his ruin 
struck ])hrenzied with the damning thought, and 
blasted, with its fountains withered up, ere it was 
given birth ? Why was not the heart that harbored 
such ingratitude as to wish him despoiled of his life, 
of his greatness and his glories, paralyzed, annihila- 
ted, or if suffered to live, to live in misery, to live 
with fiends, with nought to feed upon but the me- 
mory of guilt, to mock him in his desolation for the 
ruin he has made? But false hearts and treacherous 
wills, or uj>raised hands, will never strike down the 
name, the memory of his glorious acts ; they will live 
enshrined in the hearts of a grateful people. For 
the people know too well that the name and acts of 
Abraliam Lincoln are inseparably aflSxed to our na- 
tionality, that they must live or expire together. 
And so Jong as human freedom has an abiding place 
on earth, the friends of liberty will acknowledge him 
the greatest of all benefactors to the human race ; 
and immortality will claim his deeds and name second 
to none in tlie world's great history of time. 

As lovers of our great nationality we mourn his 
loss, and feel the poignancy of grief that now over- 
shadows the land and fills every patriot heart ; and 
every })atriot's soul lias sent with fervency the suppli- 
cation to tlie throne of heaven, "Oh, God, would that 
this cup of alUictiou could have passed by!" 

Aniericii, thy loss is felt from shore to shore, 
And each echoes back in tnouruful strains, 
Thy pride, thy lioast, thy honored chief's no more. 



11 



Mr. Cox, in seconding the motion for a second 
reading of tlie above resolutions, delivered the fol- 
lowing remarks : 

3Ir. Fresideni : — A sad blow has smitten the heart 
of the nation. We all felt the shock with the first 
news of the early morning, and a dull heavy weight 
of sorrow oppressed us. We looked out upon the sky, 
and clouds obscuring the sunlight, were shedding 
tears over the nation's loss. Our President is dead. 
The news fell upon us like the sound of a mighty 
oak falling in the stillness of the forest. He to whom 
all eyes were turned with hope ; he who had so safely 
guided us through the tempests of the last four years, 
and carried us past the breakers into a sea of calm- 
ness, is suddenly taken from the helm of State. Well 
may we imagine the dismay that was pictured on the 
countenances of those who saw the pilot stricken 
down, and the increasing horror as they gazed upon 
the death-smitten features of him who was the hope 
of millions. But a few days ago our bells rang out 
the cheerful notes of victory, and the hopes of an 
early peace : those same bells to-day proclaim our 
nation's loss, our nation's woe. 

We feel all of one family, gathered together by a 
common calamity, and mourning the loss of one to 
whom we all looked as to a parent, whose eye watched 
over us continually for our good. Our brothers and 
sisters all over our land mourn with us this day. We 
are tendered by affliction, and all differences are for- 
gotten, for the hearts of all are desolate, and our na- 
tion mourns. We mourn for ourselves ; we mourn 
for our common country ; but most of all for those 
who wandered off from the family altar, and turned 
their backs in anger upon us. They have lost their 
best friend. He who would have welcomed them back 



12 

to the ark of safety, to the homes of their youth and 
early associations — who would have killed the fatted 
calf and prepared a feast for the prodigals; who would 
have gone out, with open arms, to meet them, and 
welcome them to the banquet and the feast, is sud- 
denly cut oil from the midst of life and usefulness, 
with much of his high purpose for good unaccom- 
plished, and purposes of good, too, to those who had 
leviled him, and had warred against the life of the 
nation. Shall another arise in his stead to hold out 
to them the olive branch of peace? Will another 
follow in his footsteps of kindness and mercy to the 
erring, and go forth from his high position to meet 
them and invite them to take shelter under the old 
banner of their country ? We fear not ; for, as it was 
said of Washington, so may we say of our fallen Presi- 
dent, "two Abraham Lincolns live not in one age V 
But yesterday he was the hope and pride of our na- 
tion, and the admiration of the world. His early 
revilers were the most ready to speak his praise; and 
now, when the clouds which encircled him were drift- 
ing off and he stood high in the bright sunlight of 
the world, he is suddenly stricken down by an assas- 
sin's hand, and lies weltering in his own blood. How 
sudden and how awful the change — from the summit 
of earthly glory to the dreary and silent tomb. No 
conqueror was ever more fortunate than he, for he 
conquered the prejudices and passions of millions, 
and made them his willing and devoted friends. No 
victor was more splendid nor hero more brave, for ho 
achieved victories over the hearts of his people ; and 
his heroic pur[)ose i-equired more bravery to withstand 
the assaults of his enemies at home and abroad than 
is needed by the conqueror who triumphs over a thou- 
sand battle fields ; but death, in an unexpected, un- 



13 



timely hour has closed the scene forever. Through- 
out our wide domain the lightning has flashed the 
terrible truth, and to-day thirty millions of people 
have one common thought and one common cause 
for sadness. Our flags are draped in funeral garb ; 
our warehouses, offices and dwellings evidence our 
bereavement ; the steamers, as they plow our nobl-e 
rivers, bear with them the ensign of mourning, and 
a universal sadness pervades our land from the forest 
bordered streams of Maine to the waters of Mexico. 

"Death has sought out and smitten a lofty victim; 
there is wailing in high places, and mourning through 
the land." Let us then bow in humble submission 
to the Divine will, and confidingly trust in the dis- 
pensations of His providence, believing that out of 
seeming evil may flow a stream for the healing of the 
nation. 

On motion of Mr. Jones^, the remarks made by 
Messrs. Hatch and Cox were ordered to be printed 
upon the Journal. 

Mr. Wayson offered the following resolution : 

Resolved by the both branches City Council of Bal- 
timore, That tlie Mayor be requested to issue his 
proclamation requesting the citizens to close their 
places of business on the day of the funeral, and that 
the bells be tolled from tea o'clock A. M. to three 
o'clock P. M. 

Mr. Hatch moved to amend the resolution by add- 
iuo: to the end thereof the words "and the Board of 
Police Commissioners be requested to close all places 
of amusement and drinking saloons until after the 
funeral, ' which was determined in the negative. 

The question being on the adoption of the original 
resolution, it was adopted. 



14 

The following message was received from the Se- 
cond Branch: 

In Second Branch, 
Baltimore, April 15, 1865. 
Gentlemen of the First Branch : 

We respectfully inform you that we have appointed 
Messrs. Moore, Burch and Nails as the committee on 
the part of this Branch to make arrangements for 
attending the funeral of the late President of the 
United States. 

By order, 

Wm. S. Crowley, CIe7'k. 

The President named Messrs. Wayson, Keyser and 
Evans as the committee on the part of this Branch. 

]\[r. Evans submitted the following letter and re- 
solution : 
To Mrs. Abraham Lincoln, 

Washington, D. C: 

Madam: — The Mayor and City Council of Balti- 
more profoundly sympathize with you in the myste- 
rious Providence that has heen permitted to overtake 
you in the sudden and unlocked for loss of your 
illustrious husband, — the Jcind father, — the nation's 
friend! 

Wlien dcatli in any form enters and takes from th'- 
family circle one of its memhers, it is accom]'aiiied 
Avitli sadness and sorrow. Tlie melancholy privilege 
of ministering to the wants of tlie suffering compan- 
ion, during the period tliat disease may be accom- 
pli.shing its fatal work, naturally inclines the mind 
to contemplate the result and almost imperceptibly 
scliools it to realize the ])arting witli the loved ones. 

But to be called upon to part witli them under tlie 
afflictive surroundings wliicli it has been your lot to 



15 

realize, brings grief and sadness. If in our power 
we would cheerfully apply the balm to soothe your 
sorrowing heart and relieve it of the heavy burden 
which is pressing it down. We would dry up the 
burning tears of the family which has thus suddenly 
been left without a father. But, alas ! how vain 
the effort to stay the tears of affection! Yet, we, 
will mingle our voices and our prayers in unity with 
millions of our beloved countrymen, and implore in 
your behalf and in behalf of your family the Divine 
blessing that He, who has promised to be a husband 
to the widow, and a father to the fatherless, may have 
you in His keeping, and that you may be sustained 
in the responsible position which you must necessa- 
rily assume in taking charge of the family which has 
been deprived of its father and protector. 

Resolved by both branches of the City Council of 
Baltimore, That the Mayor be requested to have a 
copy of the above suitably prepared and sent to Mrs. 
Lincoln. 

On motion of Mr. Hatch, the resolution was read 
a second time, by special order, and adopted. 

The above resolution w^as returned by the Second 
Branch endorsed "concurred in." 

On motion of Mr. Stuart, the Branch adjourned. 

By order, 

Geo. W. Brooks, Clerk. 




\ 



P»ROCEEDI]S'aS 



SPECIAL SESSION. 



Second Branch. 

Saturday, April 15, 1865. 
The Brancli met this afternoon at four o'clock, in 
pursuance of a summons from his Honor, the Mayor. 

Present — Daniel Harvey, Esq., President, and all 
the members, except Mr. Taylor. 

The following message from his Honor, the Mayor, 
was received from the First Brancli and read : 

Mayor's Office — City Hall, 

Baltimore, April 15, 1865. 
To the President and Members of the 

First and Second Branches City Council : 
Gentlemen : 

We are called upon to mourn in sadness the death 
of Abraham Lincoln, President of the United States. 

Mr. Lincoln has had no equal since the days of 
Washington in all those traits of character whicli 
adorn the human mind. His patrii^tism and devo- 
tion to the Union were only equaled by his Cliristian 
charity, kindly feelings and forgiving disposition. 

This atEicting dispensation is the ruling of an all- 
wise Providence, Avho moves in a mysterious way his 
wonders to perform. A nation mourns his loss in 
2!;rief and sadness. 



20 



It sliall be Tiiy uiournful privilege to unite witli 
you in paying marked respect to the memory of the 
deceased. 

Very respectfully, 

John Lee Chapman, Mayor. 
The following message was received from the First 
Brancli : 

In First Branch, 
Baltimore, April 15, 1865. 
Gentlemen of the Second Branch : 

We respectfully propose, with your concurrence, the 
reference of the accompanying communication from 
his Honor, the Mayor, to a joint special committee, 
and name as the committee on the part of this Branch, 
Messrs. Wayson, Keyser and Evans. 
By order, 

Geohge W. Brooks, Clerk. 
On motion of Mr. Moore, the proposition contained 
in the message was concurred in. 

The President appointed Messrs. Moore, Burch and 
Nails as the committee on the part of tliis Brancli. 

Tiie following report and resolutions were received 
from tlie First Bi-anch and read : 

The joint special committee, to whom was re- 
ferred the communication from liis Honor the Mayor, 
in relation to the assassination of the President, re- 
spectfully suhmit the following ]ncamhlo and reso- 

^"^••^"'- CxEo. W. Wayson, 

0. C. Keyser, 
John Evans, 

First Branch. 
J. Faris Moore, 

ThOS. B. l^UHCH, 

liKN.i. F. Nalls, 

Second Branch. 



21 

Whereas the sad intelligence has been coramuni- 
cated to the City Council of Baltimore by his Honor, 
the Mayor, of the base assassination of xibrahara Lin- 
coln, President of the United States ; and 

Whereas, all must feel that the mournful event is 
a national calamity calculated to cast a gloom, deep 
and harrowing, over the heart of eveu-y lover of his 
country ; and 

Whereas, it becomes the duty of the corporate au- 
thorities nf this city to give expression to their heart- 
felt sorrow at the unexpected and startling death of 
one who held so pre-eminent a position in the affec- 
tions of a great nation — one Avho seemed to have been 
destined by the Great Author of Events for the special 
mission assigned him ; and 

Whereas, in the fulfillment of that great mission 
he has been removed from his sphere of usefulness : 
therefore 

Resolved by the Mayor and City Council of Bal- 
timore, That we bow with resignation to this sad 
calamity, and trust to the inscrutable wisdom of Pro- 
vidence to bring light out of darkness, and sanctify 
this deep affliction to the welfare of the nation. 

Resolved, That a committee of three members of 
each Branch be appointed to act in conjunction with 
his Honor the Mayor, for the purpose of making suit- 
able arrangements to attend the funeral ceremonies of 
the late President of the United States, and that the 
Mayor, members of the Council, and tlie heads of the 
departments attend the funeral. 

Resolved, That his Honor the Mayor be requested 
to issue a proclamation requesting the citizens to 
drape their flags and places of business in mourning 
until after the funeral. 

Resolved, That in token of sorrow and respect for 



22 

the memory of" the deceased, the members of the Coun- 
cil and the corporate authorities wear the usual badge 
of mourning on the left arm, and that the Clerks of 
tlie respective Branches be and they are hereby di- 
rected to have the chambers of both Branches draped 
in mourning for the space of thirty days. 

On motion of Mr. Burch, the resolutions were read 
a second time, by special order, and, after appropriate 
remarks by Mr. Valiant, concurred in. 

The President appointed Messrs. Moore, Burch and 
Nails as the committee on the part of this Branch to 
act in conjunction with his Honor, the Mayor, to make 
arrangements for attending the funeral of tlie late 
President of tlie United States. 

The following message was received from tlie First 
Branch : 

In First Branch, 
Baltimore, April 15, 1865. 
Gentlemen of llie Second Branch : 

We respectfully inform you that we have appointed 
Messrs. Wayson, Keyser and Evans as tlie committee 
on the part of this Branch to make arrangements for 
attending the funeral of tlie lute President of the 
U 111 toil States. 

By order, 

George W. J^rooks, Clerk. 

On motion of Mi'. Moore, the Brancli adjourned. 

By order, 

WiLTjAM S. Crowley, Clerk. 



23 



REMARKS OP Mr. VALIAISTT. 



Mr. .President and Brother Members of the Branch : 

We have assembled under circumstances in which 
the American people have never been placed. A 
nation to-day mourns the loss of her Chief Magis- 
trate. The President has fallen — fallen by the hand 
of the assassin. Abraham Lincoln, the just, wise, 
true patriot and philanthropist — he who had for more 
than four years guided the good old ship of State 
through the icebergs of the rebellion, the breakers, 
the shoals, and the shifting sands of secession ; who 
had wisdom sufficient in her guidance and ability 
to steer between the rocks of danger and hazard, and 
to reach the port of victory, is no more ! To have 
such a man, and at such a time, and in such a man- 
ner, torn from us, is a dispensation we hardly know 
how to meet. It behooves us as Christians, however, 
to bow to the decrees of an All-wise Providence, and 
acknowledge His supremacy in all things, for we, 
ignorant of ourselves, often crave our own harm, 
which He denies for our good. And, Father of Mer- 
cies, forgive our faithlessness, for we feel it hard, in 
the present dispensation, to look to Thee and say and 
feel that all things work together for good. Yes, a 
great man has fallen ! The nation mourns ! Grloom 
surrounds us. The tolling of the btdls, the habili- 
ments of mourning which meet the eye from every 
point, the serious and sober countenances of the peo- 
ple, all betoken that some extraordinary dispensation 
of Providence has taken place. I hope, sir, the grief 
with winch we have all been stricken has been caused 



24 

by the ravings of a madman, and not the calculations 
and plans of a body of men, (I will not call them 
citizens, they would not be worthy the appellation, 
and they would, indeed, scarcely deserve the name of 
men.) I say, sir, I hope this may prove to l)e the 
case, for it is the first time in the nation's history 
that her Chief Magisti-ate has been stricken down by 
the hand of violence. He, of all others, should have 
been privileged to go when and wherever he pleased ; 
to have mingled with the people and partake of their 
pleasures ; feeling assured that in every individual 
he met he recognized a body guard. The assassina- 
tion of emperors and kings is, in most instances, 
horrible enough ; but the murder of a President of 
the United States — a man of our own selection, and 
who, during the term of his office at least, should be 
sacred to the heart of every true American — lan- 
guage cannot properly portray its enormity ; I will 
not attempt it. Let us strive^ however, with all our 
power to put down popular' excitement, to maintain 
our own dignity and the city's good name, and assist 
the present Chief Magistrate of the nation in the 
support of the Constitution and the laws. 



/ 



L 



